BlueChoice HealthPlan Medicaid has a care management program for schizophrenia. This program will help you better understand and manage your schizophrenia. We can assist you to set health goals and create a care plan that fits your lifestyle. You do not have to join the program. We enroll you as a member of BlueChoice HealthPlan Medicaid.

Living with Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a disorder of the brain. When a person has schizophrenia, it gets in the way of daily life.

We want you to know you can take control.

If you like, we will keep your doctor informed of your condition and the services we provide you. Your case manager can help you learn how to better manage your schizophrenia.

There are many treatments that can help manage schizophrenia and reduce symptoms. They often include medication and some type of life skills or psychosocial therapy. This may help you in:

Being able to work

Doing everyday things

Getting along better with family and friends

Medications can greatly improve the lives of many people with the disorder. They can help decrease the symptoms of schizophrenia so that you:

Know what is real and not real

Are able to take better care of yourself

Get along better with family and friends

Psychosocial treatments are another way of treating schizophrenia. You should first be stable on your medications for this treatment to work best. These treatments can help you deal with common symptoms of the disorder. Psychosocial treatments include:

Rehabilitation – These programs use social and work training to help you function better. Rehabilitation programs also include work counseling, money management and how to talk to people, such as employers.

Family education – Family is often very involved in supporting a relative who has schizophrenia. It is very important that family members know as much as possible about the disorder. This helps them watch for warning signs to help prevent episodes. They also can help and assist you in taking your medications properly.

Behavioral therapy – The therapist can teach you how to test if what you are thinking is real or not real. You can learn not to listen to your voices. You may also learn coping skills to help you manage your daily activities.

Supportive therapy – A good relationship with a therapist or case manager can help you adjust to your illness. They can help with proper use of medications.

If you are taking schizophrenia medications, do not drive until you know how your medication is going to make you feel.

Some common side effects are restlessness, weight gain, muscle spasms and changes in your heart rate. You may have other side effects.

People don’t respond the same way to the same medications. Talk to your doctor before taking new medications.These include ones that don’t need a prescription.

Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about your medications. Your doctor can help find a medication that has the fewest side effects and will work for you.

Your medication only works if taken daily as a doctor orders. It is very important to take your medication even when you are feeling better. Always follow your doctor’s advice about how much medication to take and how often to take it.

These are independent organizations that provide health information on behalf of BlueChoice HealthPlan. These links lead to independent sites. These companies are solely responsible for the contents and privacy policies on their sites.

To report waste, abuse or fraud, contact the South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Hotline at 1-888-364-3224 or email at fraudres@scdhhs.gov.

BlueChoice HealthPlan is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
BlueChoice HealthPlan has contracted with Amerigroup Partnership Plan, LLC, an independent company, for services to support administration of Healthy Connections.